History and Current Situation of River Pollution in China

History and Current Situation of River Pollution in China

Since the 1980s, China's rivers have been severely polluted due to rapid urbanization and industrialization. In particular, rivers in urban areas such as Beijing, Shanghai, and Tianjin have experienced significant pollution, and by the 1990s, over 90% of rivers in urban areas showed severe water quality degradation. The main cause was the direct discharge of untreated wastewater from factories and households into rivers, with harmful components such as ammonia nitrogen, nitrate nitrogen, and phosphate exceeding standard values, adversely affecting local ecosystems and public health.

By 1996, tap water in major cities failed to meet drinking standards, and rivers like the Grand Canal and the Huangpu River suffered from industrial effluent contamination, including heavy metals. Although the government promoted the relocation and closure of chemical factories and the establishment of purification facilities, fundamental improvements in water quality remained elusive.

In the 2020s, the Chinese government further strengthened measures against river pollution. In 2020, monitoring in 337 cities nationwide showed that 59.9% met the standards for major pollutants, indicating an improvement from the previous year. Additionally, the percentage of high-quality surface water rose to 83.4%, and the share of degraded class V water fell to 0.6%. However, groundwater pollution remains severe; according to the Natural Resources Department, only 13.6% of groundwater is suitable for drinking water sources (Classes I-III), while approximately 68.8% is classified as Class IV and 17.6% as Class V. Another survey by the Water Resources Department also reported poor groundwater quality.

In response, the Chinese government has promoted the "South-to-North Water Diversion Project," aiming to address water scarcity and pollution by supplying water from the south to the north. By the end of 2021, the total volume of water diverted reached approximately 49.4 billion cubic meters, benefiting about 140 million people. In Beijing, over 70% of urban water supply relies on "southern water," while Tianjin city center is almost entirely supplied by it.

Nevertheless, river pollution due to industrial and urban wastewater remains deeply rooted, especially in industrial areas. China's river pollution countermeasures have achieved some success, but sustainable water resource management and strict environmental protection measures are still urgently needed.